Gozitan artist, Victor Agius is launching a series of abstract paintings entitled ‘On Reddened Soil,’ embodying mixed media, objet-trouve and natural pigments. This series of works initiated in 2010 and continued to evolve by Agius to this day.

The works are being exhibited on this occasion for the first time, in an exhibition that opens this weekend in Victoria.

The title ‘On Reddened Soil’ is a quotation from ‘Sanctuaries,’ a book featuring poems by Richard England, published in 2006 by Casa Editrice Librìa and Midsea Books Ltd.

Agius’ abstract paintings form a dialogue with a number of poems penned by England such as ‘As I search the ground,’ ‘The holy earth,’ ‘Stones standing in silence’ and ‘In the middle sea.’ Many of the works in ‘Sanctuaries’ speak of the haunting and mysterious aspects of Gozo.

The poems are narratives entwined with the poet’s keen observation of both heritage landmarks and historical monuments. Other themes quoted and addressed include the Mediterranean Sea, the Neolithic heritage, ritualistic sites and the islands’ ecological opulence of rich soils and honey coloured stones.

Victor Agius’ works in different media combined with objet-trouve and pigments, oils and acrylics had already been exhibited on a smaller scale in 2005 and later in 2009 in Florence. In 2009 a large canvas composed of hay and pigment was selected by the curators of the International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Florence to be exhibited in Italy.

The current works of the project ‘On Reddened Soil’ aim to delve deeper and embrace the use of direct matter and natural materials recycled and collected from various parts of Gozo.

Agius will be exhibiting his series of abstract paintings at the Ministry for Gozo Exhibition Hall in Victoria, designed by the Parisian Military engineer Charles-Francois de Mondion (c.1720).

Victor Agius’ (b.1982) first contact with art was at his father’s sculpture studio and later at Harry Alden’s art classes. He graduated in Art from the University of Malta and furthered his studies at the International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture in Perugia, Italy and at the Central Saint Martin’s College for Art and Design in London.

His works were shown at Opus 64 Galerie in Sliema and at the Auberge d’Italie in Malta and in 2009 he exhibited at the International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Florence. Other recent group exhibitions include those held at the Long Room Gallery at Oxford University, the Centre Culturel Christiane Peugeot in Paris, Bricklane Gallery in London, the Arte Padova in Padova, the Museum of Modern Art in Santo Domingo, the Galleria San Eufemia in Venice and at the Spazio Pastificio Cerere in Rome.

He also exhibited at the Duke of Edinburgh Room 36 curated by Austin Camilleri and recently collaborated with composer Mariella Cassar in Ggantija 2013 Project held at Ggantija Temples in Gozo curated by Vince Briffa.

His recent work documents the event ‘Phusis – Unframing the landscape’ which was selected by the National Museum of Fine Arts to feature in a collective exhibition in Valletta.

‘On Reddened Soil’ will be inaugurated by the Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo and will be open for public viewing from the 3rd of November and throughout the rest of the month, from 8.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays and from 9.00am to 12.00 midday on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information please contact the artist on 79594508 or visit his website www.victoragius.com.

This exhibition is being hosted by the Ministry for Gozo and is kindly supported by ECCO Shoes, Delicata Winery and Country Terrace.

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